White-collared Pigeon
Columba albitorques
A dark pigeon that is endemic to the Abyssinian highlands. There is a white mark on the back of the head, and white patches in the wings that are conspicuous in flight. Found at middle and high elevations. Nests in rocky areas as well as in towns and cities, and feeds mainly in grassland and cultivated areas. Can be similar to the highly variable feral Rock Pigeon, but distinguished by the white mark on the head. Not very vocal, but does sometimes give a low cooing call.
Identification
The white-collared pigeon is 32 cm (13 in) in length. It is a large grey-brown pigeon with a conspicuous white hindcollar contrasting with a slate-grey head. In flight it shows prominent white wing patches formed by white inner primary coverts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Columba albitorques
- Authority
- Rüppell, 1837
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Columba
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds

Gray-headed Albatross
Thalassarche chrysostoma
Rarely found north of cold subantarctic waters; ranges south to pack-ice in summer. Adult has a gray head, thick black underwing margins like much commoner Black-browed Albatross. Immatures look similar to Black-browed overall, but told by black bill that soon develops yellow along top, and often with variable gray hood. Yellow bill edges narrower than the more lightly built Buller’s Albatross, which occurs to the north but is often mistaken for Gray-headed.

Chinese Egret
Egretta eulophotes
Medium-sized white egret. Breeding adult has bright blue loral skin, a pinkish-orange bill, and long frilly plumes on the head, neck, and back. Nonbreeding adult lack plumes and has dull greenish legs and bill. Nonbreeding birds can be confused with Little Egret, but note Chinese Egret's thicker bill, proportionally stouter legs, orangish base to the bill, and dark lores with a shallow crook between eyes and bill. Light morph of Pacific Reef-Heron may also be similar, but average much thicker-billed and thicker-legged than Chinese. Moves between craggy islands and coastlines when breeding; winters in mangroves, estuaries, and mudflats.

Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
A small, mostly grass-green bee-eater with a canary-yellow throat separated from buff underparts by a black line across the throat. Singles and pairs occupy grassy savanna and wetland edges. They often perch lower than 1.5 m above the ground, and dart around hunting flying insects, then returning to the same small twig. Calls include a sibilant “s-lip” and other high-pitched notes. The Blue-breasted Bee-eater is slightly larger and has a white patch on the cheek. The much larger Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater has burnt orange underparts, and it prefers highland forest above 1800 m.
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